Indian criminal procedure | Updated October 2026

Section 150 CrPC - Information of Design to Commit Cognizable Offences

Section 150 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 required a police officer who received information about a plan to commit a cognizable offence to pass it promptly to the appropriate police officers. The corresponding provision under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is Section 169 BNSS.

Current legal position: The BNSS came into force on 1 July 2024, replacing the CrPC for proceedings governed by the new law, subject to transitional and saving provisions, including Section 531 BNSS. Section 150 CrPC remains important for understanding earlier law and saved proceedings.

What does Section 150 CrPC mean?

The expression design to commit an offence means an intention, plan or arrangement to commit an offence. A cognizable offence is an offence for which a police officer may arrest without warrant in accordance with the applicable law; see Section 2(c) CrPC and the corresponding definition in Section 2(1)(g) BNSS.

The provision addresses preventive policing: police must share credible information concerning a planned cognizable offence with their superior officer and any other officer responsible for preventing or taking cognizance of the offence. It is a communication duty, not a general power to arrest without satisfying separate statutory conditions.

Original text of Section 150 CrPC, 1973

Every police officer receiving information of a design to commit any cognizable offence shall communicate such information to the police officer to whom he is subordinate, and to any other officer whose duty it is to prevent or take cognizance of the commission of any such offence.

Section 169 BNSS - Corresponding current provision

Section 169 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 carries forward the duty to communicate information about a design to commit a cognizable offence. It operates with Section 168 BNSS (police to prevent cognizable offences) and Section 170 BNSS (arrest to prevent commission of cognizable offences, subject to its conditions).

These are distinct functions: receiving and communicating intelligence under Section 169 does not by itself establish grounds for preventive arrest under Section 170.

Duties of a police officer under the provision

Receive information: A police officer becomes aware of a plan to commit a cognizable offence.
Inform the superior officer: The information must be communicated to the officer to whom the receiving officer is subordinate.
Inform other responsible officers: It must also be passed to any other officer whose duty is to prevent or take cognizance of that offence.
Enable lawful preventive action: Appropriate officers can assess the information and act under the applicable legal provisions.

Practical example

Suppose a police constable receives specific information that a group plans to commit a violent cognizable offence. Under Section 169 BNSS, the constable must communicate the information to the superior officer and to any other police officer whose duty is to prevent or take cognizance of the proposed offence. Whether any person may be arrested or other coercive action taken must be assessed separately under the relevant law.

Section 150 CrPC and Section 169 BNSS

Both provisions concern transmission of information about an intended cognizable offence. The CrPC section is the former provision; Section 169 BNSS is the corresponding provision in the new procedural code. The application of the old or new law in an individual matter may depend on the commencement date and saving rules.

Section 149 CrPC - Police to prevent cognizable offences (corresponding Section 168 BNSS).
Section 151 CrPC - Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences (corresponding Section 170 BNSS).
Section 531 BNSS - Repeal and savings.

Official legal sources

For authoritative statutory text, consult the India Code official legislation portal and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Search the India Code portal for the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act 46 of 2023), particularly Sections 168 to 170 and 531, and for the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974), particularly Sections 149 to 151.

Frequently asked questions

Is Section 150 CrPC still the current provision?

The corresponding current provision is Section 169 BNSS. The CrPC may remain relevant to saved proceedings under the transition provisions.

Does Section 169 BNSS authorize arrest?

No. Section 169 imposes a duty to communicate information. Any preventive arrest requires independent compliance with the conditions of the applicable arrest provision.

Who must receive the information?

The officer to whom the receiving police officer is subordinate and any other officer charged with preventing or taking cognizance of the proposed cognizable offence.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information, not advice on an individual case. Consult the applicable legislation and a qualified legal professional for case-specific guidance.